soil

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈsȯi(-ə)l

soiled; soiling; soils

transitive verb

: to stain or defile morally : corrupt

: to make unclean especially superficially : dirty

: to blacken or taint (something, such as a person's reputation) by word or deed

intransitive verb

: to become soiled or dirty

soil

2 of 4

noun (1)

: soilage, stain

protect a dress from soil

: moral defilement : corruption

: something that spoils or pollutes: such as

: refuse

: sewage

: dung, excrement

soil

3 of 4

noun (2)

: firm land : earth

: the upper layer of earth that may be dug or plowed and in which plants grow

: the superficial unconsolidated and usually weathered part of the mantle of a planet and especially of the earth

: country, land

our native soil

: the agricultural life or calling

: a medium in which something takes hold and develops

soil

4 of 4

verb (2)

soiled; soiling; soils

transitive verb

: to feed (livestock) in the barn or an enclosure with fresh grass or green food

also : to purge (livestock) by feeding on green food

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French soiller, suiller, from Old French soil wallow of a wild boar, abyss, from Latin solium chair, bathtub; akin to Latin sedēre to sit — more at sit

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, soil, piece of land, from Vulgar Latin *solium, alteration of Latin solea sole, sandal, foundation timber — more at sole

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1501, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler